Jewelry case



Au!- 19 1941- M. L RATHBUN 2,253,212

JEWELRY CASE Filed June 21, 19:57

an HIC- ll Allw Planning. 1a,I 1941 i UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE JEWELRY cs sE Merrill LQRathbun, Salamanca, NJK. Appucmon Jine ,21, 1937.4 serai No. 149,36 3 Clarins. n (cl. 20s- 40 yThis invention relates to an improvement in receptacles,`and more particularly to closed cases adapted to accommodate articles of jewelry.

One embodimentof the invention discloses a closed case for use in packaging and displaying articles of jewelry and particularly strap watches. Within the case is located an-expandible vinsert or which may be mounted a` strap watch. This insert is adapted to fit the contourv of the body of the case in either of, two positions, that is, `in position for packaging and for display.

Prior to this invention cases of this class have been generally of elongated form for the'pur pose of accommodating a ystrap and watch in such a manner that when the cover was opened,

a pleasing display could beeffected.` `Only slight oi' this nature in a rectangular or round case since the case contour did not readily lend itself tothe required dimensions of a strap and Watch.

By means of the present invention a strap watch or arialagous article is 'adapted yto be located in' a case in one position for packaging and in another position for display. Thus, the design of a case may be variedv at will without particular consideration being given to the shape requirements of the article to be accommodated.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore, lies ln the provision of a closed case for packaging and displaying articles of jewelry.

Another. object of theA invention lies in the provision of a closed' clase having' an insert" adapted to mount and secure an article of jewelry'against displacement. i

Another object of the? `invention lies in the provision of a closed case which is provided with a support for an article m unting insert in either package or display positio .1 l 1 Other and further objects of the inventionwill the article supporting insert in the position shown in Fig. l.` y

' Reference is now had to the drawing wherein the reference numeral I0 is employed'to generally indicate a. closed case embodying one form of the invention. -The case comprises a body or article receiving portion II and cover I2. A

suitable hinge structure I3 connects the cover I2y to the base II and includes spring means I4.

which serves to hold the cover I2 in open posivtion as shown in Figure 2 or in closed position.

- The base II may be a solid construction or hollow as in the case of the molded piece shown in the drawing. In the present instance the base and cover are substantially circular but the shape thereof is of Arelatively little importance to the invention. /Tjhe upper face I6 of the base II is formed with aV substantially circular depressed area Il which 1s defined by'a shoulder I8. The

wall of the depressed area Il is formed with a downwardly curved recess I9. Adjacent the side walls` 20 of the recess I9 are curved ledges 22. The ledges 22 do not have the depth of the recess I9 and are of somewhat less length. It will be noted, however, that they are arranged directly opposite one another and cooperate to form a seat for the case insert under conditions hereinafter more fully set forth. While the recess I9 and ledges 22 are shown to be formed in true arcs, it is contemplated that they may assume other proportions, this depending on the class of article of jewelry to be located in the case as Well as on the shape and size ofthe insert.

Within the case is located an insert 23 which in one form is a ring having spaced apart ends 24. The insert is formed from spring-like material and its diameter may, therefore, 4be reduced for the purpose of mounting a strap and Watch 25 and 26 thereon. As soon as the strap and watch are located about the circumferential surface of the insert, said insert is allowed to be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and in which Fig. 4 is a plan view of the open case showing f L Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an'opened case em- I expand and the spring-like tension thereof prevents displacement of both Watch and strap. The insert 23, after the strap and watch have been mounted thereon, is located in the depressed area I1 of the base II, the shoulder I8 of this depressed area serving to prevent lateral displacement of the insert. Although not shown, it is contemplated that the cover I2 may be formed with an annular depressed area or a depressed area corresponding in shape to that of the insert, so that when the cover is closed upon the base the insert can have no vertical or lateral displacement with respect to the case and all danger oi breakage or disflgurement to the strap and watch is prevented.

Whenit is desired to open the case and display the strap and watch, the insert is' removed and changed from a' horizontal to a vertical position substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. It is pointed out that the insert is somewhat wider than the strap and watch it is adapted to mount and, therefore, the circumferential edges thereof may rest on the ledges 22 of the base. A slight space between the lowermost portion of the insert and the'base wall of the recess I9 occurs 'and it is contemplated that the lowermost portion oi' the strap 25 may conveniently be disposed therein. With a strap watch or other article of jewelry mounted on an insert of the type shown and described, it is possible to display the article at the most advantageous angle. For example, if the case is located well to the rear of a show case or display window, the insert may be rotated to position the watch and strap substantially as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. On the other hand, if the case is adjacent the front of the show case or display window, the insert may be rotated to position the watch for best display and examination.

Although the invention is disclosed as being applicable to a round case, it is to be understood that the provision of an expandible insert and two piece mounting therefore is applicable to a case of almost any conceivable design and shape, and furthermore, that' the'insert may be rectangular, triangular, or any other configuration, this depending entirely on the particular article to be packaged and displayed. Thus, modifications of the invention shown and described are contemplated insofar as these modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1.A closed receptacle for an article of merchandise comprising a body portion and cover, a member for mounting an article of merchandise in said receptacle, said member consisting of a split ring of spring-like material and being contractable to be received within and expandable to engage and secure said article, said body portion having a depressed area, the base wall of said depressed area being provided with a recess, said depressed area conforming to one contour of said member and said recess conforming to another contour of said member whereby said member may assume either oi' two positions with respect to said receptacle.

2. A closed receptacle for an article oi' merchandise comprising a body portion and cover, a member for mounting an article of merchandise in said receptacle, said member consisting of a split ring of spring-like materialwalls forming a substantially circular depressed area in the upper face of said body portion, said member being mountable in the opening formed by the walls of said area when compressed and being expandable to frictionally engage said walls and prevent inadvertent displacement from said depressed area.

3. A closed receptacle for an article of'merchandise comprising a body portion and cover, a memberfor mounting an article of merchandise in one or two positions in said receptacle, said member consisting of a split ring of springlike material and being contractable to be received within and expandable to engage and secure said article, certain of the Walls of said body portion forming a substantially circular depressed area in the upper face thereof, the base wall of said depressed area being formed with a recess depressed transversely of said body portion, in one position only one side of said member being engaged with the walls of said depressed area and in the other position a portion of the iace of said member being engaged with the walls of said recess.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN. 

